PNP eyes Pangasinan as area of immediate concern
IN PREPARATION FOR MAY 9 POLLS
THE perceived ‘battle royale’ in Pangasinan between the two gubernatorial aspirants has prompted the Police Regional Office to consider placing the whole province of Pangasinan as an area of immediate concern on or before the May 9 local and national elections.
Hinting about the possibility of a close contest between incumbent Governor Amado Espino III and Fifth District Congressman Ramon Guico III, P/Colonel Richmond Tadina, newly confirmed regular police provincial director of Pangasinan said P/Big. General Emmanuel Peralta is considering placing Pangasinan as an area of immediate concern.
Tadina told the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the Question Hour of its physical session on January 31 that although he cannot say yet he expects an intense political rivalry, the strong possibility is there.
He said if Pangasinan becomes an area of immediate concern during the campaign period leading to the day of elections, the Police Regional Office will augment the existing police personnel in Pangasinan.
But he said this will all still depend on the assessment of the peace and order situation of Pangasinan by the Regional Intelligence Division and the joint coordinating composed of the police and the Commission on Election.
He clarified, however, that at the moment, no place in Pangasinan can be considered as hot spots in the coming elections, although there were nine shooting incidents already recorded by the police since the start of the new year but were deemed isolated cases and not election-related.
The latest of the shooting incidents, he said, was the shooting to death of the former barangay chairman of Bolo, Labrador on the night of January 30 by two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle. The case is still under investigation.
According to Tadina, the killing of the former Mayor of Anda cannot be considered as politically motivated because the suspect was a former bodyguard of the victim and the firearm used by the suspect came from the victim’s household.
“But we are still conducting investigation and validation surrounding this case, said Tadina.
Meanwhile, other places expected to see close contests among the candidates are in Sual, Mangaldan, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Urdaneta City, Binmaley and Dagupan City. (Leonardo Micua)
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